When your dad has played at the highest level during a glittering career comparisons are always going to be inevitable.

Leaving the stadium with the man of the match champagne in his kitbag was not a bad way for Kasper Schmeichel to mark his professional debut.

As it is only two-and-a-half-years since his dad, Peter, hung up his gloves on an illustrious career, the performances of the Great Dane remain fresh in the memory.

The pressure on Kapser to match his dad's achievements is, and no doubt always will be, a lingering presence as the football world inevitably seeks to compare father and son.

Having to deal with the spotlight because of what his father achieved is a tad harsh on a 19-year-old, but on Saturday Schmeichel Mk II showed no signs of feeling the pressure as he performed impressively against Peterborough United, comfortably slotting into the Darlington side as Quakers' fourth keeper of the season (five if you count Phil Stamp).

The enormous goal kicks, the long throws, confident handling and delivering occasional beratings of team-mates were his famous father's trademarks and all were present during young Schmeichel's first game after signing on loan from Man City - his dad's last club before retiring in 2003.

One of his saves was vintage Schmeichel: spreading his arms and legs in a star-shaped jump to close down an attacker before blocking the shot with an outstretched boot. Like father, like son, all that was missing was the red nose.

That save from James Quinn would have made Schmeichel senior proud and he was in the crowd at the 96.6TFM Darlington Arena. The elder Schmeichel admitted to being more nervous watching his son than he did when as a player himself, though he need not have worried.

He was first called into action to beat away an inswinging free kick in only the third minute and that set the tone for the remainder of the match, especially the first half when the teenager was continually called upon.

Quinn was a particular threat though there was little the keeper could have done to prevent the striker's goal. Although, in the same position, Peter would surely have been 'asking' Matt Clarke what he was playing at.

"Of course it was a proud moment for me," said Schmeichel senior who says he does not coach his son, preferring instead to leave that to staff at the City of Manchester Stadium. "It is very easy to play in these games yourself but once it is your offspring it is completely different, you feel a little nervous.

"I am always pretty nervous watching Kasper but when I saw him in City's first team in pre-season it convinced me that he has a future in football - but as to what level that is not for me to say, but the way he played today confirmed that.

"Firstly a goalkeeper is there to make saves but there are other parts of the game too, like kicking, and he did not make mistakes.

"I thought he played well, I was pleased with him."

The youngster though, did succeed in angering Mark Wright, manager of Peterborough, with a challenge just before the break on Dean Holden whose lofted shot inside the Darlington penalty area went over the bar.

He was felled after the ball had gone by Schmeichel, the referee, John Robinson, played on.

As a consequence, in the tunnel after the game, an irate Wright used some industrial language to inform Robinson what he thought of the decision.

The elder Schmeichel may have been feeling justifiably proud but by half-time he could have been forgiven for feeling a tad embarrassed too as he was shown on Darlington's big screen more than some of his son's new team-mates.

It was a good idea the first time, by the 37th shaky close-up the novelty of being hosts to a Man United legend had long worn off.

However, at half-time pride was certainly not the over-riding emotion among Darlington fans. It was more like abject disappointment after an insipid display from their team.

There were glum faces all round as a Quakers comeback seemed highly unlikely.

Darlington's performance did not improve immediately in the second half until David Hodgson's triple substitution changed the game and, ultimately, handed Quakers the points.

Darlington's latest keeper played his part in the second half too, no more so in the dying seconds when dealt comfortably with a Mark Aber free-kick as nervous fans held their breath in fear of throwing away victory.

There has been many a footballer who has not quite lived up to their father's high reputation - Paul Dalglish, Jordi Cruyff, Gavin Strachan and Nicky Summerbee are among those to have tried and failed.

It is too early to suggest just how Schmeichel's career will pan out but first impressions were more than encouraging and even after the game he continued to impress by making one young supporter very happy by handing a delighted ball boy his gloves.

It was the only time he gave anything away all afternoon.

Read more about the Quakers here.